By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Manhattan soccer jumped on top of Hayden 1-0 in Thursday's Centennial League game and was locked in a 1-1 halftime deadlock before the host Wildcats dominated the second half with three unanswered goals, clinching at least a share of the league championship with a 4-1 victory.
Seniors Grace Funk (second from left) and Carsyn Broxterman (right), who both scored goals, congratulate Wildcat freshman Emma Slyter (16) after her second assist of the day in Hayden's 4-1 Centennial League win over Manhattan Thursday at Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I think playing a good team was good,'' said Hayden coach Klaus Kreutzer, whose team improved to 13-0-0 overall and 4-0 in the Centennial League. "I think that was good for us and being down. I told them that I was proud of the fact that they came back and they kind of set the tone the second half.''
Sophomore Hailey Schmidtlein scored Hayden's lone first-half goal to forge the halftime tie before senior Grace Funk scored off an assist from freshman Emma Slyter just 4:37 into the second half to put the Wildcats ahead to stay.
The Wildcats scored again just over seven minutes later on Schmidtein's second goal of the day before senior Carsyn Broxterman scored Hayden's final goal with 6:09 remaining off Slyter's second assist of the game.
"We were a little bit slow to get off the mark and I think that's because we haven't played any difficult teams lately,'' Kreutzer said. "But give them credit. I think they recovered and Manhattan's a good team, so I think it's good.''
Hayden senior Lauren Borjon pitched a second-half shutout in goal as Manhattan fell to 7-4-1 overall and 3-2 in the league.
The Wildcats will be right back in action Friday at 4 p.m., hosting city rival Seaman (11-0-2) in a battle of unbeatens.
"It will be fun,'' Kreutzer said. "Do I want to win tomorrow? Sure, but I want to make sure we stay healthy, play well and let the chips fall where they may.''
HAYDEN 4, MANHATTAN 1
Manhattan (7-5-1, 3-2-0) 1 0 -- 1
Hayden (13-0-0, 4-0-0) 1 3 -- 4
Hayden -- Goals: Hailey Schmidtlein 2, Grace Funk, Carsyn Broxterman.
